Meanwhile, the New Orleans aquarium, which lost the majority of its collection during Katrina, brought back a 300-pound sea turtle named King Midas.

About 10,000 animals died after four days without support systems at the Audubon Aquarium of the Americas.

The survivors, including a 19-member penguin colony, two sea otters and several hundred freshwater fish, were evacuated to other aquariums. But King Midas was brought back from Moody Gardens in Galveston, Texas, as the New Orleans aquarium began the process of repopulating its tanks.

“It’s really a sign of hope and rebuilding. It was a big rallying point for our staff. They’ve gone through so much, losing animals they worked with for 20-plus years,” aquarium spokeswoman Melissa Lee said.